The basic meaning of “angel” (Hebrew,
mal·’akh'; Greek, ag'ge·los) is “messenger.” As
the “Word” (Greek, lo'gos), Jesus is God’s messenger
par excellence. Remember, too, that as the archangel, as well as “the
firstborn of all creation,” Jesus had the highest rank among the
angels even before he came to earth.—Colossians 1:15
1. God is All Knowing.....but Jesus was not
When speaking of the day of judgment, Jesus clearly gave evidence of
a limitation on his knowledge when he said, "but of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the son,
but the Father." Mark 13:32, and Matt 24:36. But God knows all.
His knowledge is without any limitations. That Jesus, of his own admission,
did not know when the day of judgment would be, is clear proof that Jesus
is not all-knowing, and that Jesus is therefore not God.
2. God is All Powerful.....but Jesus was not
While Jesus performed many miracles, he himself admitted that the power
he had was not his own but was derived from God when he said, "Verily,
verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what
he seeth the Father do..." St. John 5:19. Again he said, "I
can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear I judge: and my judgment
is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father
which hath sent me." St. John 5:30. But God is not only all-powerful,
He is also the source of all power and authority. That Jesus, of his
own admission, could do nothing on his own is clear proof that Jesus
is not all-powerful, and that therefore Jesus is not God.
3. God does not have a God.....but Jesus did have a God.
God is the ultimate judge and refuge for all, and He does not call upon
nor pray to any others. But Jesus acknowledged that there was one whom
he worshipped and to whom he prayed when he said, "l ascend unto
my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God." St. John
20:17. He is also reported to have cried out while on the cross, "My
God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?" Matt 27:46. If Jesus were
God, then couldn't this be read, "Myself, myself why hast thou
forsaken me?" Would that not be pure nonsense? When Jesus prayed
the Lord's prayer (Luke 11:2-4), was he praying to himself? When in
the garden of Gethsemane he prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me: Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt." Matt
26:36-39. Was Jesus praying to himself? That Jesus, of his own admission
and by his own actions, acknowledged, worshipped, and prayed to another
being as God is clear proof that Jesus himself is not God.
4. God is an invisible spirit.....but Jesus was flesh and blood
While thousands saw Jesus and heard his voice, Jesus himself said that
this could not be done with God when he said. "No man hath seen
God at any time." St. John 1:18. '"Ye have neither heard
His voice at any time nor seen His shape." St. John 5:37. He also
said in St. John 4:24. "God is a spirit and they that worship
him must worship him in spirit and in truth." That Jesus would
say that no one had seen or heard God at any time, while his followers
both saw and heard him, is clear proof that Jesus was not God.
5. No one is greater than God and no one can direct Him but Jesus acknowledged
someone greater than himself whose will was distinct from his own.
Perhaps the clearest indication we have that Jesus and God are not equal,
and therefore not one and the same, come again from the mouth of Jesus
himself who said in St. John 14:28, "My Father is greater than I." When
someone referred to him as good master in Matt 19:17, Jesus responded, "Why
callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God..." Furthermore,
Jesus drew clear distinctions between himself and God when he said, "I
proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I of myself but He sent
me." St. John 8:42. Jesus gave clear evidence of his subordination
to God, rather than his equality with God,when he said in Luke 22:42, "not
my will but thine be done" and in St. John 5:30, "I seek not
mine own will but the will of the Father which hath sent me." That
Jesus would admit that he did not come into the world on his own initiative
but was directed to do so, that he would acknowledge another being as
greater than himself, and that he would negate his own will in deference
to affirming the will of another, give clear proof that Jesus is not
the Supreme One and therefore Jesus is not God.
Conclusion
The Church recognizes the Bible as the primary source of knowledge about
God and Jesus. But since the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is not
the Supreme Being and the Supreme Being is not Jesus, upon what basis
have you come to believe otherwise?
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